RI 5.1

"The eardrum is a thin piece of skin that's stretched tight like a drum. It vibrates or moves very fast when sound waves hit it. These vibrations are carried to three tiny bones called the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. They conduct, or pass, the vibrations to your inner ear, where they are changed into nerve signals and sent to your brain. Your brain makes sense of the sounds you hear."

What is an eardrum?

• a special chemical that fights infections in the ear

• a machine that tests how well a person's ears work

• a thin piece of skin that vibrates when sound waves hit it

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.5.2

"'Actually, earwax protects your ears,' the guide explained. 'It contains special chemicals that fight infections and prevent dust and dirt from getting inside.'"

Based on the evidence in these sentences, what can you infer about dust and dirt?

• They can be harmful to your ears.

• They can protect your ears.

• They contain chemicals to fight infection.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

"[Three tiny bones] conduct, or pass, the vibrations to your inner ear, where they are changed into nerve signals and sent to the brain. Your brain makes sense of the sounds you hear."

What does the speaker mean by the phrase "makes sense of" in the second sentence?

• confuses

• processes

• loses

Tags

CCSS.L.5.4A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

"The eardrum is a thin piece of skin that's stretched tight like a drum. It vibrates or moves very fast when sound waves hit it. These vibrations are carried to three tiny bones called the hammer, anvil, and stirrup.

What happens when a sound wave hits an eardrum?

• It vibrates or moves very fast

• It sends a message to your brain

• It causes your heart to beat faster

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.1

"If something like wax, for example, gets stuck in your ear canal, it can block sound waves from getting to your eardrum. This type of problem is called conductive hearing loss."

What can you infer about wax?

• It helps you

• It causes hearing problems

• Everyone has it

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.5.2

You can damage your hearing permanently if the noise is too loud or you are exposed to it too long. That's why construction workers wear ear protection. Their equipment can be extremely loud.

What might happen if construction workers didn't wear ear protection?

• As long as they wear a helmet, they'll be fine.

• Their loud equipment could damage their hearing.

• They might get fired.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.5.2

"Well, an infection can also make you lose your hearing for a while." The guide continued, "If the tube that goes from your middle ear to the back of your throat gets blocked, germs can get trapped inside. Your ear will hurt and feel like it's ready to burst.

What can you infer about ear infections

• They happen often.

• They rarely happen.

• They are painful.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.5.2

Sensory hearing loss can be caused by a number of things. Sometimes the ears don't develop properly before a baby is born. There are also some serious infections that can cause sensory hearing loss in kids. Sensory hearing loss is usually permanent.

What is true about the cause of sensory hearing loss?

• There is only one cause of sensory hearing loss.

• Sensory hearing loss can be caused by many things.

• We don't know what causes sensory hearing loss.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

Hearing tests tell how well your ears work. To take the test, doctors ask you to wear headphones and sit in a special room so you don't hear any outside noise. A machine makes different tones. You raise your hand each time you hear a sound.

Why is it important that you don't hear outside noise during a hearing test?

• The outside noise can cause damage to your ears.

• The outside noise might distract you from hearing the tones from the machine.

• The people in the waiting room might help you cheat on the test.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.8

"That flap on the side of your head is only a part of your whole ear," she said. "Tiny, complicated pieces inside your ear do the main job of hearing."

What you can infer about the inside of the ear?

• The inside of the ear is one big piece.

• There are many tiny pieces inside the ear that have a big job.

• The inside of the ear is unimportant. The outside of the ear does the hearing.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.5.2